Question: InfoSpace has removed their free reverse fax number lookup service, and I wanted to ask if anyone knows of another free source. I am aware of several paid sources, primarily the Powerfinder CD from www.infousa.com, but was also hoping to find a free source.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Suggested sources for Congressional Research Service reports

Rick Rehberg also writes:

My two favorite newsletters for research sources are "The Cyber Skeptic's Guide to Internet Research" www.bibliodata.com ($105/year for nonprofits) and "The Information Advisor" www.informationadvisor.com ($165/year). These are monthly newsletters that cram a lot of good information into their eight pages. Information Advisor covers a few subjects in-depth each month, while Cyber Skeptic briefly covers dozens of sources. Both websites have article indexes, samples and trial subscriptions available.

I wanted to summarize a recent "Information Advisor" article on Congressional Research Service reports. CRS reports are produced by researchers at the Library of Congress at the request of members of Congress, and they are well-researched and clearly written. As the article states, they cover subjects from the EU's ban on hormone treated meat to the chip mill industry to greenhouse gases.

The following sources for CRS reports are available:

PAID SOURCE:

- www.pennyhill.com has every CRS report since 1995, selling for $19.95 and $29.95. My advice is to exhaust the free sources below before purchasing.

FREE SOURCES:

- National Library for the Environment, www.cnie.org/NLE/CRS/, has over 1,200 free CRS reports on environmental issues, searchable by keyword.

- Federation of American Scientists, www.fas.org/irp/crs/, browse reports divided into categories relating to science and national security.

- Your Senator or Representative. Many people believe that CRS reports have historically been difficult to obtain because members of Congress are protective of this perk they provide to constituents, just like tour tickets and flags. How often you want to go to this well is up to you.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. The "Scandalously Rich" of the Forbes 400

Forbes magazine has just published the latest edition of its annual list of the wealthiest people in the country. It can be found online at http://www.forbes.com/2002/09/13/rich400land.html. While the magazine is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the list--which has served as a gauge of the changing distribution of wealth in the United States--it has also had to acknowledge the current controversies about the rich and powerful. The issue contains an article entitled "Scandalously Rich: A Forbes 400 ranking doesn't always go hand in hand with a sqeaky-clean reputation" that features a variety of chief executives that are currently behind bars or may soon be.

Those of you who can't get enough of business research tips may be interested in knowing about a twice-monthly online newsletter from Britain called Free Pint <www.freepint.com>. The publication does not necessarily take a critical view of business, but it does have useful information. The current issue, No.120, has features on offshore tax havens and on international business rankings. You can view the newsletters on the website or sign up there to get them via bulky e-mail messages.